Do you keep 'emergency' gifts on hand?

16 years ago

I was just cleaning out the guest room closet, phew, what a job! (Impending yard sale, soon.) This closet has bags full of gift bags, tissue paper, old quilts, craft supplies, winter coats we rarely use, paint, sets of dishes, etc, in it. And a bunch of small gifts and wrapping and mailing supplies, including a scale. Most of the gifts are things like candles, velvet wine bottle bags, Christmas ornaments with tags still on them, sets of coasters I've made, stuff like that.

Do you keep a stash of goodies like this? Do you find yourself needing them very often? I usually end up picking out something for a hostess gift, rather than birthday or anniversary. I just wondered if you all do the same?

(My closet looks a LOT better now, all organized again.)

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Comments (25)

maybee_gw
16 years ago
Yes, I do...and I "always" have little things for our grandkids when we either go there or they come to our house...
pattico_gw
16 years ago
Yes...I keep a gift box..If I find cute things on sale I buy them and stick them in the gift box.

When money is tight I have something to fall back on.

But I prefer to pick something out for the person I'm giving to.

patti
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lydia1959
16 years ago
I have a dresser drawer filled with things. Most of them were good deals that I couldn't pass up. Mostly candles, notecard sets, paper pads, journals...that sort of thing. I have some of those wine bags too and some fancy stoppers! I use some of them as fillers in swaps and DD (who is poor most of the time) often takes things when one of her friends has a birthday.
Jodi_SoCal
16 years ago
When the kids were small I kept all kinds of emergency gifts around. Not so much any more.

Jodi-
phyllis__mn
16 years ago
I have some, but am running low, as I put some in our "Dirty Santa" game at Christmas
Adella Bedella
16 years ago
I keep treasure box items for the kids, but that's about it. My emergency gift is usually cold hard cash.
Linda Wayman
16 years ago
When we used to have a lot of family and friends over during Christmas season I always had extra gifts in case someone came along with those invited or someone dropped in. I make a lot of strawberry pecan bread during Christmas season and that was one of the things I kept on hand. I also bought a couple of those umbrellas that fold up; a black one and a colorful one as well as home made soap ( not my home ) and some coloring books and crayons. I kept them in a basket near the tree. When they didn't get used for Christmas they were given at a later time or given for charity.
Linda - from the top of Mississippi
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
16 years ago
Gosh, I have tried buying gifts and cards in advance. But, when the time comes for presentation, I feel the gift is inadequate. So...I don't do it anymore. I try to be thoughtful in gift giving.

I've tried to regift too! But, I feel bad about it so I stopped that too! If I receive something I can't use. I tell the truth to whomever I give it too. If it is something I can't use, I don't want it to go to waste.

Gayle
hale_bopp
16 years ago
Yes! You just reminded me, Flamey, to get more Tooth Fairy gifts for the kids. She usually brings a little something like a windup toy or marble because we don't keep cash, LOL! Well, not very often- we love our debit cards. :)

Blessings!
Haley
dances_in_garden
16 years ago
Sort of. My family members often like or collect certain things and if I see something small that I think they will like and the price is good, I pick it up. By the time their birthday or whatever comes up I take a look and see if I have enough things or if I have to supplement with something else or a bit of money.

For example, one sister is into unique martini glasses and collects angels. The other collects coca-cola items. As far as having "generic" gifts on hand? Not so much.
heatherinohio
16 years ago
I don't. But I have always wanted to. I think it is a great idea. The insides of your closets sound like lots of fun!! All sorts of goodies indeed! :)
sjarz
16 years ago
I have some things stashed away, but I can rarely find them when needed. They turn up when I'm looking for the roaster, or my Mom's silverware or special occasion items that are packed away.
Funny thing, the one's that turn up never seem to be the one's that are wanted at that time...
that darn murphy!
Suzan J
scottymam
16 years ago
I did when the kids were small and got those last minute party invites, not so much now. I do however pick up Christmas type gifts all year, but they are person specific.

Ellie
girlsingardens
16 years ago
I keep a couple of what I call categories of emergency gifts on hand. For instance, when I find inspirational things, cute magnets, little things like notepads I pick up and store in a box. Our Drugstore is always having a clearance area and I pick up some nice higher end things there. These are usually given out as someone who may need a lift up or a hug. I will drop them off to cheer someone up or surprise them.

Now I also pick up things like Dances for relatives that collect. In fact I have been done Christmas shopping for my MIL since the first of April. I picked up a cookie jar, xmas ornament and then bought a new set of kitchen knives and a vintage jadeite vase. I also have my bil's gift for Christmas done. When I see something that might be perfect for someone I pick it up. I also do vintage at Christmas, I picked up the entire Seasame street library set for my nephews at a thrift store for xmas this year.

Stacie
mcmann
16 years ago
Yep - don't look in the box under the bed!
Linda Wayman
16 years ago
I buy salt and pepper shakers for my dd and tiny spoons for dgd and a few other little things for friends and family that I know collect certain things, but they aren't emergency gifts.
I used to buy Christmas gifts all through the year, but since there are so many electronics and video things on the market it's hard to keep up with who has what. We have 10 grandkids and don't know who has what or wants what and we can't buy clothes ahead of time because they all grow so fast. We started giving cash gifts to all of them. It's not as much fun as shopping for them, but at least we know it's something they can use.

Linda - from the top of Mississippi
talley_sue_nyc
16 years ago
everyone I know has too much stuff. I would never give them some generically chosen gift just to give them a gift.

I really dislike the "oh, you came to my Christmas party, here's a gift" sort of giving. I think the constant supply of gifts ends up diluting the power of the TRUE gift-giving occasions (bday, Xmas, big graduations/milestones).

I would like to ratchet DOWN the unthinking giving that goes on around me.
jaybird
16 years ago
With a combined family total of 35 people...yes!! I do have gift stashes....and I also have a huge plastic tub dedicated to Christmas gifts which I pick up all year long!
Like Maybee, I always have little "thingys" for kids that come to visit.
okwriter
16 years ago
No. I am more of a "Last Minute Lucy" when it comes to gifts. I made a huge breakthrough last week, though. Got a great deal on a collection of microfiber dish rags/towels, so I picked up my mom a set for Mother's Day when I got mine.

:-)
maryanntx
16 years ago
I don't now, but I used to keep items that I had hand made for spur of the moment gifts. Now I don't do as much crafting and sewing as I used to.

I found a bag not long ago and it was filled with different types of Christmas snowmen items. I can't remember who I bought them for. I know I had to have a reason to buy that many that were all snowmen???
sandy_in_ia
16 years ago
We always have a "Zachary stash" (it is actually for he and his brother)! I pick up little odds and ends all the time, then when he comes or when we go and see them, I grab a couple of things out of the pile. Right now there are some View Masters, fun chalks and those capsules that when you put them in water they become different animal sponges....they love those! OH, and a whole bag of Easter treats! Last Sunday at Target, they had all their Easter leftovers for 90% off!!! Most are little toys that have candy in them...we will give them some of those here and there for a while!

I always had little things here and there when the kids were little...just in case there was a birthday party that they forgot to tell me! Not so much of anything else tho.
gardenspice
16 years ago
No, but maybe you are a nicer person than I am? LOL.
curlysue
16 years ago
If I get a really good buy on something, I will stash it in hopes of being able to use it as a gift, but it has to be something that I like too, just in case I don't have anyone to gift it too. Like Wally World had the gift basket bath sets on sale after Christmas-regular price $10, on sale for $5. I bought 3 of them (all different) hey everybody I know likes them and if I don't gift them I will use them myself. Also the school kids sell the Home Interior candles as fund raisers at a really good discount and so I help the school by buying them and then I put them in my stash box for gifts or for myself. When the school sales cookbooks I always buy 3 0r 4 - who doesn't love to get a school cookbook? Needless to say my stash box is running over and that is fine by me.
FlamingO in AR
Original Author
16 years ago
Interesting mix of views on the topic. It's good to see that I'm not alone. I live so far from stores that it's not easy to run out and get a fast hostess gift for a last minute invitation, so having some nice candles or a handmade item on hand makes life a lot easier for me. And less embarrassing, too. It's the custom around here that no one comes to dinner empty handed except family.

And today I cleaned out my clothes closet, so that's 2 closet in 2 days, I am shocked at myself but it's very satisfying and kind of fun. I keep going back and admiring my handiwork. lol
jannie
16 years ago
I used to buy gifts year-round. I would see something I thought someone would like, so I'd buy it and put it away. It got out of hand, I was running out of places to hide the gifts, so one year I gave up. I looked everywhere in my house for hidden gifts and gave away everything. Then I started doing my shopping closer to December and find that works better for me. Less confusion. Also ended up costing less, because I would buy one big gift per person, rather than a bunch of smaller things.

Do you keep 'emergency' gifts on hand?

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FlamingO in AR
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Do you keep 'emergency' gifts on hand?

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